EM1Love

"anothermiatafanboy" (kvnkiley) 09/09/2014 at 13:11 • Filed to: None

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So my post about the EP3 didn't go too well the other day. Wondering what OPPOs thoughts were on the 1999-2000 Civic Si. I have always loved them, 100hp/liter from the little 8000rpm 1.6. Crisp 5 speed manual.

They are best in Electron Blue Pearl. I am going to check one out today after work. A '99 with 100,000 miles, minimal modifications (megan coilovers, injen intake, dc exhaust), extremely clean, in Electron Blue Pearl. A dream car of mine. Guy is asking 7k but has indicated 6k is about as low as he will go. A lot of money, but a near stock, clean EM1 is quite rare these days. Any advice? NPOCP? Anything specific to look for with this model? Thanks for any advice you can give loyal opponauts.

MonkeePuzzle > anothermiatafanboy 09/09/2014 at 13:14

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look out for riced versions :D

love 'em, had one, have its engine in my car still. 100% support your decision to get one

EBP was only available for 2 years and only in the SI model, so its obvious what it is, so it makes it a bit if a theft target

MonkeePuzzle > anothermiatafanboy 09/09/2014 at 13:17

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got a link to the ad?

I think $6k is a little steep, but 100,000 miles is about standard. Name brand add on parts is nice. 100k means its ready for a timing belt, so that $700-1000 worth of value if its been done or not.

Dunnik > MonkeePuzzle 09/09/2014 at 13:18

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Great car but yea, it's hard to find one that isn't molested, and "near stock" is probably as close as you can get. 6k still seems a bit much, though.

anothermiatafanboy > MonkeePuzzle 09/09/2014 at 13:19

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I am worried about theft. I don't know quite how to handle that. I live in a small suburb of Milwaukee, but do travel to Milwaukee on occasion. This one doesn't seem too riced out By the way, (stock wheels, stock shift knob, and steering wheel, and lights, etc..)

anothermiatafanboy > MonkeePuzzle 09/09/2014 at 13:20

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http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/4587353558…

MonkeePuzzle > anothermiatafanboy 09/09/2014 at 13:26

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I'm wondering if it was more modified before and he stripped off his add ons before planning to sell. he mentions a CF hood, and it looks like it's missing the front and rear lips it should have come with.

But it certainly looks very stock/mildly modified. I'd be pretty tempted by it. No pictures of the engine bay though. And like I said, no mention of timing belt.

MonkeePuzzle > anothermiatafanboy 09/09/2014 at 13:27

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personally if I had to choose a commuter, I'd pick the EP3 over this SI. Drivability and theft concerns would be my main deciding factors. The K-series really requires far less gear changing than the B series wiht the SI's transmission.

E92M3 > anothermiatafanboy 09/09/2014 at 13:30

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I lusted for one of these when they were new. Then the RSX Type-S. Of course the Integra Type-R as well. None were in my budget of course. I had a 95 Civic EX at the time.

anothermiatafanboy > MonkeePuzzle 09/09/2014 at 13:31

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He did not do timing belt, he hasn't owned the car too long, says he got it from a friend. I like the EP3 alright, but I think the EM1 is pure sex.

MonkeePuzzle > anothermiatafanboy 09/09/2014 at 13:33

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I'm pretty torn, I've owned both, super hard decision between the two.

K-series gets a timing chain, if that helps, so it should be less maintenance.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > anothermiatafanboy 09/09/2014 at 13:50

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Good luck finding a clean, stock example...

MonkeePuzzle > anothermiatafanboy 09/09/2014 at 16:12

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I'll happily pick this one up for you and take care of it until you arrive to road trip it home :D

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4660057374…

anothermiatafanboy > E92M3 09/09/2014 at 17:04

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I feel ya. And I drove a 98 Civic EX. But I want its athletic big brother now!

anothermiatafanboy > MonkeePuzzle 09/09/2014 at 17:05

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That does help. And I like the EP3. I just made a similar post to this one but about the EP3 about three days ago. If I could find one clean with the right mileage anywhere near me I would take it. I will say though, the B16 and its 8,000rpm holds a special appeal for me. Im about to leave to go see it, and maybe drive it!

MonkeePuzzle > anothermiatafanboy 09/09/2014 at 17:08

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commented on your ep3 thread too. update us on what you find in the em1, and obviously what you actually end up buying!

anothermiatafanboy > MonkeePuzzle 09/09/2014 at 17:09

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gimme that, minus at least 50,000 miles. And I'm down. I'll pay $5500

anothermiatafanboy > MonkeePuzzle 09/09/2014 at 19:53

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Well it was in amazing condition. Looked straight of a Civic Si ad from back in the day. Paint was perfect, no rust I could find. Idled nice and quiet. He wouldn't let me drive it, says he has given too many joy rides but if I come with cash of course I can. He did give me a ride in it though. Tracked nice and straight, sounded like pure fugging sex. VTEC crossover at 5.5k was like a religious experience. I may be in love.

Only negatives at all: I wish it weren't lowered. Drivers door closed with a nasty sound, whole thing looked to shake when I closed it. Passenger door on the other hand slightly difficult to close. Trunk was kinda nasty, in stark contrast to the showroom nature of the rest of the car. Itll cost me 6k. Whaddya think?

MonkeePuzzle > anothermiatafanboy 09/09/2014 at 20:10

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unlowering it should be dead easy. the drivers door sound is odd, perhaps loose hinges, I'd guess just from wear not an accident if there was no other evidence of damage.l. bet the passenger door just needs some grease. trunk nasty like just dirty, or was there a smell or wetness?

$6k would be top of the market here in CO, but like youve said a mostly stock one is rarer. If I were in the market I'd think it worth while. At the very least worth taking some cash so you can have a drive.

anothermiatafanboy > MonkeePuzzle 09/09/2014 at 20:41

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Trunk didn't appear wet or have a musty smell. Just looked dirty. I just know to check the trunk when looking at a car lol! I have been looking into EP3s as well. For some reason in my mind EP3=reliable, great seats/steering wheel/SHIFTER, and EM1= more likely to be stolen, but an engine that while maybe not any quicker, is a lot more lustworthy. And looks wise I think its an easy win. My brain says find an EP3 (maybe http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/cto/465896… , maybe http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/4591820564… that piece of rice) but my heart says 'omg!! electron blue pearl! that VTEC hit at 5500rpm, that B16 wail, that cool factor!!'

anothermiatafanboy > MonkeePuzzle 09/09/2014 at 20:43

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And the part of me with no balls at all, just a logical brain says: get this http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/ctd/465844…

MonkeePuzzle > anothermiatafanboy 09/09/2014 at 21:03

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for sure gotta check the trunk and engine bay for accident damage.

I hear you, ep3 says reliable but a little more boring. looks wise I'm tor as I prefer hatches, hence my b16 swapped ek hatch.

my b16 has been 100% reliable, but I'm tbe second owner since basically new so i know its maintenance. so the more idiot proof k series is attractive wbe looking higher milage cars.

seriously I cant decide between them, but I think neither would be the wrong choice, so at least yu cant go wrong :P

MonkeePuzzle > anothermiatafanboy 09/09/2014 at 21:05

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boo boring brain. accord will have worse fuel economy and less fun to drive :)

anothermiatafanboy > MonkeePuzzle 09/09/2014 at 22:26

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If they make a b16 ek hatch I'd be in heaven. I'm going to go check out and EP3 after work tomorrow. The silver ricey one I posted above with only 77k miles. That should help. It seems like the seats/steering wheel/ shifter placement are all perfection in the EP3 and I'm a sucker for that.

MonkeePuzzle > anothermiatafanboy 09/09/2014 at 22:39

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it is, that dash mounted shifter is a little odd looking but really well placed

b16 hatch is heaven :D

anothermiatafanboy > MonkeePuzzle 09/09/2014 at 22:42

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Showed my dad a pic and he asked what's wrong with the shifter?? I think it looks awesome. And it looks ideally placed. It looks similar to where I'm reaching when in my Miata. Whereas the EM1 shifter felt very grounded to the ground lol.

MonkeePuzzle > anothermiatafanboy 09/09/2014 at 22:46

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It really felt like honda was just trying to see what they could do as that was the first year of cable shifters, instead of connected straight rods, so its like they thought "hell, why NOT put it crazy places" since it doesnt need to be inline wiht the trans anymore

anothermiatafanboy > MonkeePuzzle 09/10/2014 at 01:03

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Well I just got off the phone with a gentleman selling an EP3. Owned by an older guy. 100k miles, lots of maintenance records, only mods I can see are intake and shift knob. Although the dealer said it was fartcan equipped when it came in. He's asking 7500, has indicated he might go as low as 6800. http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/ctd/462696… whaddya think MonkeyPuzzle, my new brother in Honda?

MonkeePuzzle > anothermiatafanboy 09/10/2014 at 08:30

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it looks incredibly clean, and the ad says all thr right things. its the second version of the ep3 with 5 lug wheels, I dont recall the other changes but I think the gearbox ratios were updated also.

if you ca get him down to the 6800 thats a lot newer car for the money and likely less risk than the em1

anothermiatafanboy > MonkeePuzzle 09/10/2014 at 10:50

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The car blue books for high sevens. And he said he wants around 7k. Which to me means 'a little less than 7k'. I know it is newer and better. Any idea on the bodykit on that EP3? It looks like it may be stock. Did Honda offer that? The only things still keeping the EM1 on my mind are the looks (gadzooks its pretty, especially in EBP) and the engine (when he floored in from low rpm in 2nd and the engine slowly got louder and higher pitched then at 5.5k let out this brassy wail - I needed a change of pants).

MonkeePuzzle > anothermiatafanboy 09/10/2014 at 10:53

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I'm pretty sure it is HFP, Honda Factory Performance kit. Sideskirts and front lip that is an add on to the stock bumper. Would have been an option from Honda.

anothermiatafanboy > MonkeePuzzle 09/10/2014 at 10:59

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Oh, cool. I can think of like 12 advantages for the EP3, but ive wanted a real high revving Honda motor forever now, and I feel like this might be one of my last chances. Ik, im psychotic..

MonkeePuzzle > anothermiatafanboy 09/10/2014 at 11:05

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I cant blame you :)

EP3s are only going to get cheaper, they kinda aren't special, the EM1 is only going to go up in value as they are the last of the B-series and getting rarer and rare.

anothermiatafanboy > MonkeePuzzle 09/10/2014 at 23:23

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Hey MonkeyPuzzle, I checked out an EP3 today. And while I didn't drive it more than a couple minutes I did enjoy meeting it in person. As expected seats were awesome, shifter felt great, steering wheel felt great. I might go scoop that Chicago one up. I will admit though, I cant get the EM1 off my mind. If I do go check out the EM1 again with intention of buying, is there anything you recommend checking specifically? Any little tests I should give the tranny(I don't know how to test a trannys health really)? Is there some way to make sure the B16 and transmission in the car are the ones that came with it? Thanks for all your help with this stuff.

anothermiatafanboy > MonkeePuzzle 09/11/2014 at 00:26

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Another question. The car is supposed to have 100,000 miles, but the valve cover was in terrible shape, almost no black left. Could be normal wear and tear?

MonkeePuzzle > anothermiatafanboy 09/11/2014 at 09:19

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yeah, easy to check, but not 100% reliable. when standing in front of the car facing the engine, the left of the headers where the transmissions meets the engine block you should see two things. On the transmission will be a green plate with the VIN number, which should match the car, and on the engine will be the stamp with B16A2.

re. the paint on the valve cover, I've seen that a lot, it flakes away fairly commonly, repainting is easy, and I wouldn't take it as a sign of poor maintentnace or care, I think its just a poor bond from the factory of the paint to the valve cover.

Little tests, I'd just make sure it engages all gears smoothly, and that vtec engages around 5200-5500 and you should notice substantial change in power from there until redline at ~8200. Unfortunately there is no dipstick for the transmission oil, but obviously check the engine oil colour.

edit: better pic of the engine stamp and VIN plate

MonkeePuzzle > anothermiatafanboy 09/11/2014 at 09:25

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couple of threads to show how common it was in that era, D, F, H and B series engines all seemed to suffer from peeling paint, and the black ones seem to be most affected

http://www.preludeonline.com/f60/valve-cove…

http://www.preludeonline.com/f65/wtf-paint-…

anothermiatafanboy > MonkeePuzzle 09/11/2014 at 10:48

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MonkeyPuzzle, you are the man!!! Although I finally got a Carfax account and the Si owner was lying about nearly everything. I almost cried.

MonkeePuzzle > anothermiatafanboy 09/11/2014 at 10:58

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oh! :( well glad you found out BEFORE owning it